Petaluma police: Suicidal woman subdued with beanbags

Petaluma police used beanbag ammunition fired from a shotgun Friday to subdue a suicidal woman who threatened officers with a wrench.

Police said four of the beanbag rounds struck Sharon Marie Poncia, 52, in the torso.

She was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment overnight and was expected to be booked into the Sonoma County Jail today on suspicion of making death threats to officers and assault with a deadly weapon.

Police responded to Poncia's home in the 100 block of Burlington Drive at about 2:30 p.m. Friday after she reportedly threatened to kill herself.

Poncia told officers that she was armed with a handgun and that she would kill them if they harmed her dogs.

Police said after about 40 minutes of unsuccessfully trying to negotiate with Poncia, she emerged from her garage and came at officers while wielding a 16-inch metal crescent wrench above her head.